Soft music might be playing in the background.
Loveseats, and straight and winged-back chairs, huddle about a cushiony area rug.
Side tables provide a platform for the comforting teas to come. My Sereni- Tea teashop needs only its guests to complete the scene.
“We are a holistic, organic tea lounge/shop to do with well-being; it’s what I’m trying to promote,” owner, Deryn Higgins said.
“… It’s a place where people can come and de-stress from the outside world.”
Separate seating areas in the 900 square foot lounge invite singles, duos and small groups to relax over hot or iced teas. Baked goods, like lemon breads, carrot cake, raspberry crumble bars or cookies can satisfy physical hunger, while books — carried in or bought on site — quench mental thirst.
“I bring in a lot of the Hay House books, all best sellers,” Ms Higgins said.
“[They’re] known for enlightenment, well being, spiritual, self-help.”
Dr. Wayne Dyer’s The Shift and Byron Katie’s How Would You Be Without Your Story? feature among the selection.
Spend as much time as you want, or need to, in the My Sereni-Tea tea lounge, to unwind your morning, mid-day or afternoon. Stop in before work.
“We have about 55 varieties of teas — holistic/herbal, red teas, green teas, black teas,” Ms Higgins said. “We have Oolong and Flower Blooming teas.”
On site consumption or take home packs invite customers to experiment with taste, the four types of red Rooibos teas from South Africa, for example, or the caffeine-free and decaffeinated teas among the herbal varieties.
The in-house or take-out daily flavours of iced teas might include hibiscus punch, peach and ginger, honeydew and lemon or any other of the green, red, white or black teas.
And tea lattes — teas with steamed milk — are also available.
Many teas have not yet been listed on the menu, according to Ms Higgins.
“And there will be more coming in for the wintertime, like pumpkin spice and more wintry flavours,” she said.
The owner researched and sampled tea suppliers, finally settling upon four in the U.S. that offered the unheard of flavours she was seeking.
“One company in particular is really organic and fair trade,” she said.
“Another company specializes in a lot of dessert teas, and that’s the black flavoured teas, for example, toffee chocolate hazelnut, coconut truffle [and] carrot cake.”
“We’ve had a wonderful response, and the comment we keep hearing is, ‘I don’t want to leave’…Our teas are the best selection in Bermuda,” Ms Higgins said.
The owner listed ‘everybody’ among her patrons.
“I’ve been told that our prices are extremely reasonable,” she said, “especially the books, and we have a good variety of different gifts no other shop has.”
Those gifts extend to crystals, jewellery and dreamcatchers. Customers will encounter candles, candleholders, amethyst eggs, fragrant oils and incense, wall hangings and photo stones.
And My Sereni-Tea complements its retail items, self-help books and specialty teas with the by-appointment holistic treatments its owner also offers on site.
Holistic healing practitioner and doctor of metaphysics, Ms Higgins delivers Brazilian light energization, crystal healing and other treatments in an adjacent room of approximately 125 square feet.
The harbour-view room in which she practises is light, airy and private.
Ms Higgins is also a Rohun therapist, reiki master and inner sanctuary facilitator.
She leads meditation classes and women’s healing circles. See www.spirithealingbermuda.com. For an appointment, email dhiggins@ibl.bm
And for more information on the My Sereni-Tea teashop and lounge, log on to www.mysereniteabermuda.com, or call 296-2114.
But for first hand knowledge and a calming, hot or iced cup of tea, visit for an hour or two in the tea lounge at My Sereni-Tea, Chancery Hall Building, 52 Reid Street, Hamilton.
The lounge and retail shop are open Monday through Friday from 8am till 4pm and Saturday from 9:30am till 2:30pm.